Shared Passages

First-Year Seminars

First-Year Seminars constitute the gateway to the K-Plan and to college life for entering students and serve as the foundation of the Shared Passages Program. Offered in the fall quarter, these Seminars are designed to orient students to college-level learning practices, with particular emphasis on critical thinking, writing, speaking, information literacy, and intercultural engagement.

First-Year Seminar Courses

SEMN 101 FYS: Straight to Hell: Tales of the Underworld Many ancient cultures imagine a place in the afterlife that lies below or at the edge of our world, sometimes a vague and shadowy place, and at times one of torment. We'll look at a variety of ancient myths (Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, and Norse) that take us straight to hell, as well as a variety of contemporary movies, plays and stories that reimagine that ancient hellscape. As we wander across the River Styx and back, we'll explore why we find stories about hell so alluring and what they can teach us about living.
SEMN 104 FYS: Migration, Community, and Self Going to college and immigrating to a new country have much in common. Moving to a new place presents many challenges. Yet, a new environment also offers opportunities for personal growth that force immigrants to reconcile "Old" with "New." Through reading, writing, and discussion, students will seek to relate a specific episode of migration-the mass movement of over 2 million Jews from Eastern Europe to the United States between 1881 and 1914-to their own "immigration" to Kalamazoo. Along the way, the class will explore many of the universal questions raised by relocation. Why does migration occur? What motivates people to pick up their lives and move to a new place, and what happens to them when they arrive? How does the migration experience shape their view of the world they left behind and their view of their new environment? How do immigrants reconstruct communities for themselves where none may have previously existed? Finally, how does moving to a new place shape one's sense of self?
SEMN 107 FYS: Exploring Technology for Accessability Digital technology is an essential part of modern life. Much of the technology today is not designed with the needs of people with disabilities in mind, excluding them from opportunities and limiting their participation in many routine activities. When technology is designed and developed to be accessible it can reduce barriers for people with disabilities, increasing opportunities to work, learn, communicate, and engage in daily life. In this course, we will learn about accessibility in the context of computers, and study the distinction between accessibility, usability, and inclusion. We will explore the range of barriers to computer usage, the use of adaptive technologies, and best-practice guidelines for designing and developing accessible systems and technologies to meet the demands of users of all ages and abilities. Students will discover ways to advocate for changes in policy and practice.
SEMN 109 FYS: Cultured: The History and Science Of Fermented Foods What are the microorganisms that turn cabbage into sauerkraut or kimchi, and how do they give fermented foods their funk? Why are you supposed to eat yogurt when taking antibiotics? What can fermented foods and beverages tell us about the societies that made them? Through the lens of common fermented foods, a mixture of scientific and historical readings will be used to explore the process of fermentation and how these foods help define ethnic (and microbial) cultures. Discussions, presentations, and written assignments will be used to develop critical thinking and communication skills. The scientific aspect of this course is intended to be a broad introduction; no background in science is necessary.
SEMN 110 FYS: Horror Cinema and the Unnatural Horror films from the world over express anxiety around difference, which is often imagined through monsters, ghosts, zombies, and violent killers. Preoccupations in the genre include familial trauma and its impact on survivors as well as cultural anxiety around matters of race, gender, and class relations, immigration, and warfare. In this class, we will explore through films and film criticism the ways in which the horror genre navigates these crises of normativity and its disruptions. We will focus on the visceral nature of the medium and the genre of horror, which seeks to shock and startle and ask why viewers take pleasure in being frightened, disgusted, and distressed.
SEMN 111 FYS: From Agatha to Zorro: Popular Fiction in the Early Twentieth Century As the twentieth century dawned so, too, did a new form of literature: the pulp fiction magazine. Unlike their more staid predecessors in the realm of popular fiction publishing, the dime novels, these magazines (and their characteristically colorful covers), offered an arena in which newly imaginative and provocative stories thrived. Though they are often dismissed as cheap fodder for mindless pleasure-seekers, this course takes these stories and the influence they had on our world seriously. It investigates the divides between "high", "low", and "middlebrow" culture that consideration of the "popular" provokes, considers the long afterlives of these stories and the heroes like Tarzan, Zorro, Conan the Barbarian, John Carter, Buck Rogers, and Doc Savage that they originated, analyzes the visual dimensions of their often colorful and dramatic illustrations, contemplates the divisions between "pulp" magazines and other forms of popular fiction, and weighs the gendered, sexual, racial, and class considerations that affected the stories' readership and the visions that they cast of the world and the people within it. What can they tell us today?
SEMN 129 FYS: All Speech Is Legitimate!: The Fallacy of "Broken" Language Descriptions of language use tend to be absolute and uncompromising in their nature. For instance, it is common to hear that certain ways of speaking or writing (i.e., expressing oneself) are "wrong" or "ungrammatical", "inappropriate", or even "unprofessional". In other words, that there is correct ("good") language and incorrect ("bad") language, where the former is how we should strive to express ourselves. However, what standard and non-standard speech have in common is that they are both human creations. In other words, both are invented, since all language is invented! In this seminar, students will explore various language dialects (both standard and non-standard) with the objective of developing a more in-depth understanding of the relationship between language use and personal identity. Not only will we examine views on "right" and "wrong" language, but also how these views influence how we perceive others and tie in with internalized socio-cultural biases. Who gets to decide what's "right" or "wrong" anyway? Put differently, "If you understand me, why correct me?" Some familiarity with Spanish, while not required, will benefit students in their understanding of course concepts.
SEMN 133 FYS: Thinking About Marx The term "Marxism" gets thrown around a lot in public conversations. Ironically, whether they love or hate Marx, a great many people are confused or mistaken about what Marx believed and advocated. This widespread confusion is understandable. Marx changed his mind on key theoretical issues throughout his career and even seems to have endorsed mutually contradictory views at times. Moreover, his thought gave rise to a variety of political movements that he would not have endorsed. This class aims to help students cut through this confusion by providing a solid introductory grounding to Marx's thought. We will study several of his key concepts and theoretical tenants (including but not limited to: the labor theory of value, how capitalism extracts "surplus" labor, the way "ideology" functions to uphold the status quo, historical materialism, and Marx's skepticism about liberalism and human rights). At the end of the class we will also study some more contemporary social movements inspired by Marx. This course will help students understand the foundations of Marxism so that they can make up their own minds about which parts of his theory might or might not apply today.
SEMN 137 FYS: Co-Authoring Your Life: Writing Your Self in the Context of Others The autonomous, self-made individual is a powerful American myth. But no person is entirely self-made; all of us are embedded in various families and communities and ideologies, and we also find ourselves marked by cultural conditions such as our race, class, religion, gender and sexual orientation, all of which influence who we are in various ways. The clash between the desire for autonomy and the shaping power of these social conditions makes the process of coming up with an identity extremely difficult and complex. How can we maintain a sense of autonomy while acknowledging influences? How can we be ourselves while learning from others? How do we write our own lives when so many other hands seem to hold, or to want to hold, the pen with us? Through novels, stories, autobiographies, essays and films, this course will explore different situations in which people struggle to form identities under intense "co-authoring" pressures. You will write analytical essays about the texts of others and personal essays about yourself.
SEMN 139 FYS: Shakes-Teen In this course we'll be focusing on how the United States has reworked Shakespeare into the teen movies of the 90's, rock and rap music across the decades, and vlogs like "Jules and Monty." In exploring how Shakespeare has been adapted to these radically different contexts, we'll also be exploring the difficult issues these adaptations focus on--race, gender, sexuality, colonialism and class. What a culture does with Shakespeare's plays can tell you a lot about that culture; so we'll be asking a number of questions: Why is Shakespeare so popular in the United States today? What does he mean to us? What are we doing with his plays and why? What do our adaptations of his work tell us about our own views about racism or sexism in America, for example?
SEMN 141 FYS: Mulan Across Cultures: Gender, Tradition, and Modernity What preparations does Mulan undertake for the battlefield in various renditions of her story? How do the original Mulan folklore and its Hollywood adaptations differ and parallel? What lasting impacts have the tales of Mulan had on history and across cultures? This course explores the textual, performative, and cinematic interpretations of Mulan as the enduring female warrior from Chinese folklore. It examines the impact of Mulan's narratives within China, across East Asia, and in the Western world, spanning literature, film, and historical and cultural discussions. Central themes in this course include gender practices such as cross-dressing, ethnic identities, and the dynamics between tradition and modernity in China and East Asia. The course also covers intercultural communication, among other topics.
SEMN 143 FYS: Design Intelligence Design can make a difference. Imagine Apple without the iPhone, the iPad, or the MacBook. Could IKEA succeed selling Chippendale knock-offs? How does Facebook differ from Instagram? Is suburban life sterile by design? This course will look at the role of design in the world around us. Our emphasis will be on features, feel and function rather than on the aesthetics of design. We will consider why some designs work well and others work poorly. We will think about how and why things are designed in particular ways. Design choices have economic and business implications. We will analyze the impact of design on retailers, marketing, land use, packages, and websites. Observing and understanding design can help us better understand the world.
SEMN 144 FYS: Truth, Lies & Politics Are truth and politics friends or foes? Does your answer differ depending on the kind of truth in question? In political matters, is it always wrong to lie? Political thinkers have been asking such questions for millennia, but in an era of echo chambers, "fake news," and conflicting accounts of what's true, they have presented themselves with renewed urgency. In this course, we will examine the relationship between truth and politics within the political theory tradition as well as in the contemporary context. We will focus in particular on strategies for navigating the bewildering terrain of our so-called "post-fact" context, in which it seems as though politics has become a contest over reality itself.
SEMN 145 FYS: Creativity: Inspiration and Beyond The psychology of creativity is as complex and mysterious as it is intriguing. Whether brushing paint on canvas, composing a poem or piece of music, launching a new advertising campaign, or making a breakthrough at the frontiers of science, some form of creative thinking is required. In this seminar, we examine how creativity is expressed in arts, sciences, inventions, marketing, and many other domains, and also shine a spotlight on inclusive design. The ideas of classic and contemporary theorists and research findings reported by social scientists serve as a foundation for discussions and essays. Students will also apply their own imagination and creative problem-solving skills to a variety of puzzles and projects. This seminar will challenge basic assumptions about the nature of creativity and expand our horizons, to encompass the richness and diversity of creative expression in its many forms.
SEMN 146 FYS: From the Borders to the Lake: A Community Based Approach to Barrio Learning In this seminar, the main goal is to understand how we become part of the Kalamazoo College community through community-based work rooted in social justice and social change. This course is designed for students to gain strong navigational skills in the college. From service learning/civic engagement to peer learning, students move around Kalamazoo and engage in meaningful ways with the community. In collaboration with community partners serving BIPOC youth, hands-on activities, field trips, panel discussions, and guest speakers we will explore the role of non-profit organizations and their impact on local communities. The objective of this seminar is to gain the skills to become successful students at K while we grapple with the challenges of belonging, including our own challenges of belonging.
SEMN 150 FYS: Epic Epics The term "epic," from the Greek epos and the Latin epicus, is often used to describe very long narrative poems about heroic warriors and colossal battles such as the Iliad, the Aeneid, the Ramayana, and Beowulf. But today we also see the term epic being applied to television shows, video games, and feature films. What makes something an epic? It's length? It's content? It's format? In this class, we will explore ten different epics: Raya and the Last Dragon, the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Mahabharata, the Odyssey, the Cilappatikaram, the Sirat al-Amira Dhat al-Himma, the Divine Comedy, Paradise Lost, the Odyssey of Star Wars, and Game of Thrones. Throughout this course, we will engage with the following questions: How have epics changed over time? How have epics traveled across regions? What role does religion play in epics? What can epics tell us about gender, ethnicity, and power now and in the past?
SEMN 154 FYS: Who Are the Samurai? On a dark, chilly night in the city of Edo, Japan in 1703, 46 men broke into the home of a government official and murdered him. The story of these men, best known as the 47 ronin (and yes, you read the number correctly), has been retold countless times since that night. Outlaws to some and heroes to many, the 47 ronin have often been lauded as exemplars of true samurai. But what exactly is a "true samurai"? When you think of the samurai, what do you imagine? Is the image you have in mind the product of fact or fiction, or perhaps a little of both? Did you know, for instance, that the samurai included both women and children? Since most people are not familiar with the history of Japan's famous warriors, in this seminar we will begin by drawing from a variety of sources to explore how this warrior class-men, women, and children-lived, and how they have been viewed both within and outside Japan. We will combine our historical examinations of the emergence, evolution, demise, and reinvention of the samurai with analyses of representations of "samurai" in literature, film, sports, and business in order to gain a better sense of who the samurai are, how they have been portrayed, and why the samurai--and especially the 47 ronin--have become such an enduring and popular symbol of Japan.
SEMN 156 FYS: Songs in the Key of Life: Society And the Individual Through the Music of Stevie Wonder This course uses the music and life of Stevie Wonder as the starting point from which to ask one of the basic questions of humanistic inquiry: How does an individual artist's creative output relate to the society and culture in which they live? For an artist like Wonder we must also raise the reciprocal question: How does that art shape culture, and even create new social realities? Grappling with these questions in relation to the work of Stevie Wonder -Michigan native and arguably the greatest living American musician- requires engagement not just with the music, but with the differing intellectual priorities and scholarly methodologies of fields like History, Literature, Musicology, and Religion, as well as Technology, Disability, Gender, and Black Studies. As an introduction to college-level writing and research, this course requires students to imagine their own contributions to these questions not just as isolated ideas, but as entries into ongoing intellectual conversations.
SEMN 158 FYS: I Love (The Music of) the 90's The 1990s were a period of dramatic change for popular music. Genres like alternative rock, "gangsta" rap, and electronica rose to prominence and still influence the music we hear today. Major label sales and indie success soared until the disruption of mp3 technology and Napster reorganized the music industry. MTV and RollingStone were essential. Today, the music and culture of the decade is mined for "new" styles, products, and nostalgia ("I heart the 90's!"). While thinking seriously about sounds, image, and artistry, this course examines the music of the 1990s in social context with an ear to the events, politics, fashion, controversies, and identities that shaped musical experience.
SEMN 159 FYS: Screening and Writing La Frontera This seminar will explore the ways in which authors and directors have represented the identities, cultures, and "problems" associated with the US-Mexico border-la frontera. The questions guiding our work will be: How do visual and literary constructions of la frontera shape our understanding(s) of borders and bordering rhetoric? What are the social, economic, and political implications of such rhetoric(s)? How do bordering discourses gender, racialize, and ultimately marginalize bodies deemed as "other"? The course introduces students to a body of Latin American literary and visual culture works (films, novels, short stories, essays, music, and poetry) concerned with representing human experiences affected by exclusionary and criminalizing logics of the US-Mexico border. We will analyze how la frontera has inspired artistic experimentation and innovation, centering the discussion on the potential of cultural production to bring awareness regarding cultural differences and ethical responsibility toward others.
SEMN 160 FYS: Performing Art in China: Tradition And Innovation This seminar introduces students to the rich world of contemporary (21st century) Chinese performing arts through the study of visual works. It focuses on the intersection of tradition and modernity. Students will have the opportunity to understand key aspects of theatre, dance, music and folk performance, including their cultural and artistic significance. Iconic works such as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony, Yang Liping's dance drama Peacock, and Zhang Yimou's Impression series will be discussed. The course also explores the role of festivals, globalization, and cross-cultural collaborations that keep shaping Chinese stage art.
SEMN 161 FYS: Nutrition: Societal to Physiological Perspectives This first-year seminar will begin by delving into the societal and environmental aspects (Macro-level) of food and nutrition. These topics could include- mass production, food preservation and waste, food access/insecurity in urban areas as well as other possible themes. The latter half of the course will examine the (micro-level) individual health outcomes (obesity, diabetes, cancer) attributed to nutritional choices and also include content on personalized nutrition for healthy individuals and/or high-performance athletes. Students will become adept to diets of various cultures and make interpretations on the benefits and potential risks with consuming certain foods in habitual fashion.
SEMN 164 FYS: Poetry & Meaning in Life In the study of literature, the words "story" and "poem" usually point to two distinct ways in which a text can communicate meaning. The word "story," along with the synonymous "narrative," is widely used in everyday language as well: we tend to think of our lives as stories and of our opinions as narratives. Can the other-"poetic"? "nonnarrative"?-type of meaning, too, be exported from the strictly literary and into our habits of understanding ourselves and the world? How does one have a meaningful experience that does not have a narrative shape? In this course we will read poetry using the methods of literary analysis, while thinking about it in the context of larger philosophical and psychological questions. Lyric poems originally written in English and translated from German, Japanese, Russian, and other languages, along with a variety of readings on poetry and on narrativity will constitute the core of our discussions. We will also strategically brainstorm how you can practice nonnarrative thinking as a college student.
SEMN 165 FYS: Stalin & the Art of Fear From the 1920s until his death in 1953, Joseph Stalin wielded an extraordinary amount of control over the newly-created Soviet state. He interpreted the proper implementation of Socialist economic policy, he silenced his critics with unimaginable savagery, and he took an especially keen interest in dictating the terms by which art should be made. To whom does art belong? What was it like to create art in an atmosphere of censorship? Could artists -- like poet Anna Akhmatova or composer Dmitri Shostakovich, for example -- navigate these treacherous waters without sacrificing their creativity and artistic integrity? We will examine these and related questions through reading memoir, fiction, and historical accounts of the time; watching films; and closely listening to the music that spoke to and reflected this tumultuous time.
SEMN 166 FYS: Let Freedom Swing! Jazz Music, Social Identity and American The history and development of jazz music in American culture is arguably one of the most revolutionary aspect for African Americans. Many perceive jazz music as central to the construction of democratic practices and principles; namely civic participation, exercise of freedom, finding one's voice, improvisation, and group collaboration. In short it is imperative to preserve black culture and identity. Embedded within jazz music is the blues impulse which is not only a musical device that jazz musicians employ, but it can also be considered a human response of feeling and attitude to an adverse social condition. In this course, we will explore the complexities of the black experience such as race, stereotypes, and injustices as presented by black musicians and singers as they have tried to overcome, resist and call attention to the hypocrisy of democracy in America. We will examine musical compositions, song lyrics, cities, and aesthetic movements through a combination of lively discussions and thoughtful analysis of songs, literature, film, art and other media documentation. We will examine the relationship between race and music and the contribution to the expression of American music by African Americans. This course will provide students will opportunity to discuss, compare, and analyze a range of musical compositions and genres within the history of jazz music. This seminar is intended to help each student's writing improve and to provide all students with the knowledge, tools, and practices that will serve them in college-level writing. By the conclusion of this course, students will develop critical thinking and writing skills by analyzing and critiquing key elements in the history of jazz music. They will also develop an appreciate for, and understanding of the characteristics of jazz music and the ways in which people of African descent have has contributed to the development of American music over time. Open to all music lovers.
SEMN 168 FYS: Salem Possessed: the Salem Witch Trials and Their Legacies In 1692, the people of Salem, Massachusetts grew terrified when a small group of girls accused an enslaved woman, an impoverished woman, and a scandalous woman of bewitching them. Ultimately, twenty men and women were hung or pressed to death with stones and over a hundred others found themselves imprisoned. Historians have long considered the Salem Witch Trials a pivotal moment in American history. Countless works have offered countless reasons for the strange happenings in Salem, trying to explain why a small community in Colonial America would succumb to witchcraft hysteria long after it had died down in Europe. The Salem Witch Trials have haunted American culture. Starting in the nineteenth century and continuing into the present, writers and artists have grappled with the various meanings of the witch hunts and the persecution of innocent persons, seeing connections between "the furies of fanaticism and paranoia" of 1692 and their own time. Most famously, Arthur Miller in The Crucible used the trials to examine the persecution of alleged Communists in the 1950s. This course will examine and seek to understand the events of 1692 and the subsequent legacies of the trials in American culture through the actual documents from the trials, the writings of historians, and the imaginative works of novelists, playwrights, poets, and film makers.
SEMN 171 FYS: Rewired & Disconnected: Rethinking Life in a Digital World In an age of constant connectivity, are we more isolated than ever? This first-year seminar explores how digital technologies are reshaping the way we think, communicate, and relate to one another. From the rewiring of our brains to the reshaping of our relationships, students will explore how constant connectivity can change not only how we think, but who we are. Students will analyze how technology alters attention, memory, and human relationships, and consider how living has changed in a tech-saturated world. Through critical readings, reflective discussions, and multimedia analysis, the course investigates the tension between technological advancement and human well-being-challenging students to consider how we might reclaim agency, attention, and authentic connection in a hyperconnected world.
SEMN 172 FYS: Life with Two Languages Almost half of the world's population uses two or more languages as they go about their daily lives. In this seminar, we will explore what it means to be a bilingual or multilingual person - how this affects our brains, our ways of communicating, and our perspective on the world. We will also investigate how different societies organize life with two or more languages. Subtopics include bilingual music, bilingual education, hyperpolyglots, bilingualism & politics, language loss, and translation. This course is ideal for multilingual students, students from a bilingual household or students whose first language is not English.
SEMN 176 FYS: At Home: Belonging, Identity, and Community What is home? In this course, we will interrogate the nuances of this multifaceted word. Potential questions we will explore are. Is home a place? A feeling? An aspect of our identity? How are our homes tied to race and nationality? Sexuality? How is a "home" different than a "house"? What does it mean to be at home in your own skin? How does another person or animal constitute "home" for many of us? How do we understand spaces that actively house?many of us, but are not our homes, such as nursing homes, hotels, places of incarceration, cars? In essence, how does our relationship to and understanding of this complex word help shape our identity? ??????????? The course will take an intersectional approach by investigating the relationships between race, gender, sex, sexuality, disability, and class through an exploration of a wide range of texts and genres, ranging from traditional poetry with Ben Jonson's "To Penshurst," graphic novels with Richard McGuire's Here, ?and short stories with Daphne du Maurier's "The Birds"
SEMN 177 FYS: Exploring Cultural Diversity Through Storytelling This course is an investigation into storytelling and an analysis of various mediums and texts created by scholars and artists working within an interconnected world. While examining and creating performances of self-discovery, students will explore how we, as part of a global community, embody/perform stories that speak to inequities across marginalized groups. The classroom community will explore what it means to take part in cross-culture encounters, conversations, and stories in a world where the socially constructed boundaries between culture, community, and country are becoming less visible.
SEMN 180 FYS: Global Social Movements & Speaking Up for Justice In this class we will study how people, communities, and movements resist oppression and build alternatives to repressive systems. You do not need to be an established organizer/activist to take this course - you need only the desire to develop your own passion/path and to hone the communicative skills to make it happen. We will read and discuss primary source social movement writing as well as hear directly from global and local organizers via live presentations in hopes of learning how powerful social movements turn righteous angst into dignified action. We will also study the craft of how movement organizers tap into their full agency to contest and claim power in order to develop our own big voices in our struggles for justice. This course is for people with a passion for justice and a desire to amplify their voice in the face of opposition and/or indifference. Students will develop their skills in public speaking, writing, analysis, and research throughout the term. The instructor for this course is bilingual (English & Spanish) and can give options for reading and presenting in Spanish when possible upon request.
SEMN 182 FYS: Wheels of Change: Environmental And Social Justice by Bike This community-engaged course (SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN ADDITIONAL COMMENTS) explores cycling through the lenses of social and environmental justice. We will study the way bicycles-as vehicles of freedom and mobility--empowered women and people of color during the late 19th century "cycling craze," and we will learn about policies based in racism and sexism that limited who could easily experience the liberating movement cycling offered. Understanding that history, we'll focus on how, today, the bicycle offers hope for sustainable transportation that supports individual, community, and environmental health in ways that redress racism, and gender- and ability-based discrimination. Working closely with community partners, including the City of Kalamazoo, we will explore how communities can build cycling infrastructure using an equity lens, developing a comparative perspective by investigating how urban cycling thrives in communities in the US and around the world. We will work closely with partners on and off campus on projects that will help to provide equitable, sustainable cycling infrastructure for people of all races, genders, income levels, and ages. As we do this, we will come to know our community by bike, riding together regularly. We will also take a field trip or two to learn more about how communities nearby are improving access to safe cycling for their residents.
SEMN 189 FYS: Did Sci-Fi Do It First? Exploring The Future We Were Promised Dive into the captivating world of retro science fiction (Sci-Fi) and its uncanny predictions about our future. Through the lens of classic sci-fi television, we will explore scientific themes such as artificial intelligence, space exploration, genetic engineering, and extraterrestrial life. Each week, we will analyze how these shows envisioned the future and compare their forecasts to today's scientific realities. Together, we'll examine the scientific accuracy of these narratives, their impact on real-world innovation, and the ethical and societal questions they raise. Along the way, we'll consider the dynamic relationship between science fiction and science fact - how fiction influences and reflects scientific progress - and learn to thoughtfully evaluate emerging technologies and their potential impacts.
SEMN 191 FYS: It's Only Rock and Roll Mick Jagger said the song "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like it)" was a response to the pressure he and the band felt to continually exceed their past accomplishments. Who could have imagined how rock and roll (and all of its children) would succeed, exceed and change the world? Who could have imagined what rock and roll has accomplished and what the world has accomplished because of rock and roll? In this seminar we will explore some of the fascinating relationships between current events, social, cultural and political developments, and rock music, as expressed through the music, lyrics, art, philosophy and fashion of rock and roll. Through generous listenings, viewings, readings, discussions, and, most importantly, through our writings, we will gain a well-rounded view of the history of rock music and a deeper appreciation for the complex and evolving part rock and roll and has played and continues to play in the social, cultural, political and, of course, musical evolution of our lives and the world.
SEMN 193 FYS Banned: Censorship & Art Politics Art is a ubiquitous part of our society, but how exactly do we define the word "art" and what do we expect from it? Some might say art is solely for aesthetic enjoyment and to make us feel good, but what happens when art becomes part of the culture wars? What social conditions drive controversy around art? This course will explore art's seemingly unparalleled ability to outrage and offend. We will discuss and dissect a wide variety of historical cases where art has been deemed dangerous and/or objectionable. Through a variety of readings and discussions we will explore such topics as: Is censorship ever okay? What can controversies surrounding art tell us about those who are offended? And, what does being offended mean in a democratic society? In this course we will learn how to unpack the context of controversial art and self-examine our personal values and what it means to have those values challenged.

Sophomore Seminars

The sophomore seminar is the second component of the Shared Passages and comes at a critical moment of challenge and opportunity in students’ journeys through the K Plan. It provides a vital link between students’ entry to the K experience and their other landmark K experiences – advanced work in the major, study abroad, and a SIP.

Sophomore Seminar Courses

SEMN 201 Beauty Across Cultures In this course, we will examine how the rhetoric of beauty is shaped by cultural values, and how the powerful concepts of "beauty" in turn shape our personal lives. Through a wide selection of texts across different cultures in different genres (investigative journalism, art, multimedia sources), we will delve into the problem of how the rhetoric of beauty reflects social norms and values, and how it commands social members to assume certain gender, racial, and cultural roles. We will also investigate how the conceptions of beauty play into scientific fields such as biology and quantum physics. Sophomores only may register.
SEMN 202 Developing Sage Advice: a Sophomore Seminar on Plants & Human Health Plants have pep! This course explores the essential role that plants play in human health. We will look through time and across continents to unfold the importance and variable usage of plants as medicine. Why do some plants have medicinal super powers? Can you safely navigate the local herbal supplement aisle? Should you? We spend most of our time writing and discussing how plants affect our health from a personal and global perspective. Plants highlighted in the course play a significant role in history and the future of the human health pathway. Importantly, you can choose to dive into the plant or ailment that is important to you!
SEMN 206 Ceramics: World Pottery World Pottery is a hands-on studio course with significant research and reflection components. Class time will be used to introduce students to a variety of clay bodies and clay-forming techniques from historical and regional perspectives (wheel-throwing will not be taught). Creative assignments ask students to consider and critique the role of cultural exchange and image appropriation within historical ceramics and in their own creative work. Projects will also investigate the roles of different types of pottery within contemporary American society, as a point of reference and departure. Each student will propose, execute, and present a research project. Lectures, critiques, and discussions will focus on individual and societal assumptions about pottery. This course is a Shared Passages Sophomore Seminar. Sophomores Only
SEMN 209 Philosophy of Science A philosophical examination of scientific methods and reasoning. Topics may include the analysis of explanation, the nature of scientific truth, instrumentalist and realist interpretations of science, confirmation and falsification, observational and theoretical terms, inter-theoretic reduction, the relation among various sciences, scientific revolutions, and the possibility of scientific progress. Recommended for science majors. Sophomore standing required.
SEMN 211 Seed Stories, Sovereignty, & Stewardship The story of agriculture is, in large part, a story about seeds. Or rather, many stories about seeds and the people who developed co-evolutionary partnerships with plants through the practice of seed stewardship. In this Sophomore Seminar, we'll listen to the stories of seedkeepers and learn how their relationships with seeds embody their cultural values and cosmogeneaologies. We'll examine the role that seeds have played in campaigns of colonization, investigate how the global seed industry has shaped contemporary agricultural systems, and learn how activists and traditional seedkeepers are working to address social and environmental injustices by practicing seed sovereignty.
SEMN 212 Ancient Humans & Other Animals Humans tend either to think of themselves as separate from animals or as the top of the animal heap. We tell ourselves that we are different, and this affects how we treat and interact with animals, which might be different if we treated them as "same" In this class we will look at how ancient Greeks and Romans thought about, used, treated and interacted with animals. In this way, every day we will step into another, lost world where people held different beliefs about the animal kingdom. At the same time, we will also use their ideas and experiences to interrogate our own beliefs and practices concerning other animals Sophomores only.
SEMN 213 Christianity & the Family This course critically addresses contemporary debates about the centrality of the family in Christian teaching through a historical and cross-cultural survey. What is the relationship between Christianity and the various approaches to kinship and family in different cultures in different historical contexts? Where did our contemporary ideas about the family come from and what are Christians saying about new forms of kinship? From the Bible to present day debates about divorce, sex, and same sex marriage, Christians have never embraced a single understanding of the family, but rather have been influenced by broader cultural shifts in how kinship is done Sophomores Only
SEMN 214 Framing Difference This course will combine research and studio components, split more or less evenly. The research topic, broadly painted, will be fine art documentary practices, grounded with an entry-level hands-on studio component (using digital photography). There are two motivations for this course: to give students creative control of photographic tools (technical, formal, conceptual) prior to their leaving for study away, but also to explore the issues and ethics of documentary photography practice. While the broad research topic is this documentary practice (theory/tradition), this course will place particular emphasis on the ethics of photographing outside of one's own group. This course is a Shared Passages Sophomore Seminar. Sophomores Only
SEMN 217 World Indigenous Literatures: The People and the Land A selective study of the literary traditions and contemporary texts of indigenous peoples around the world, focusing on indigenous communities in regions where Kalamazoo College students study and with a particular emphasis on texts that explore the complex relationships between indigenous communities and the land they claim as their own. This course is a Shared Passages Sophomore Seminar. Sophomores Only
SEMN 219 Magical Realism Magical realism is a genre that combines elements of the fantastic with realism often in order to imagine utopias or resist restrictive aspects of society. This course will examine the genre, interrogate its relationship to other genres of fantasy, and consider the relationship between the aesthetic patterns of the genre and its potential for social advocacy. This course is a Shared Passages Sophomore Seminar. Sophomores Only
SEMN 220 Bad Religion In this course, we explore communities and practices that have been considered "loud," "superstitious," "weird," "unorthodox," and purportedly "satanic." To outsiders, bad religion is religion that seems to straddle the lines of magic and witchcraft, and religion that does not stay in its sphere but seems to embroil itself in public space, business, and politics. This class does not argue that there is such a thing as "bad religion" but explores contestations over what constitutes "appropriate" religious practice, community, authority, and belief in 20th century and contemporary America. From Scientologists to Satanists, this course will explore groups that have drawn the ire of neighbors, established churches, media, and governmental authorities and examine how understandings of immigration, race, gender, and sexuality structured these communities and shaped the controversies that surrounded them. Sophomores only.
SEMN 221 Social Justice Through the Arts From Hamilton to Woodstock, how have the arts stimulated and informed social transformation in America over the last 100 years? This interdisciplinary course will involve readings, listening sessions, discussion, and research as the basis for an original social practice creation incorporating at least TWO mediums (e.g. spoken word, song, dance, visual art, theatre) to express the students' view on a given social issue. Designed to accommodate students who enjoy creative activity in a variety of disciplines. Only Sophomores may register.
SEMN 223 The Inward Journey: the Science, Practice, and History of Meditation This seminar will explore the meditative experience from historical, experiential, and biological perspectives. Meditation-the cultivation of a state of thoughtless awareness that can generate profound peace and inner transformation-has deep historical roots and plays a role in many cultures and religions. Modern neuroscience has made great strides in understanding the meditative experience and documenting the physical and neurochemical changes that result from meditation. Students in this course will undertake a personal journey of active practice of meditation, primarily from Buddhist perspectives. This experience will be underpinned with study of the neuroscience and practical health benefits of meditation. Finally students will delve into the historical, cultural, and religious dimensions of meditation. Sophomores Only.
SEMN 224 Exceptional America? The idea of American exceptionalism has a long and complex history. What does it mean now and what did it mean in the past to describe America as exceptional? Who has used the language of American exceptionalism over time? Who has challenged it? How has the idea of American exceptionalism served to define what and who is and is not American? How has it shaped the ways that Americans, in and out of government, have viewed and interacted with other peoples and governments? To answer these questions, this course will take a historical approach to the idea of American exceptionalism, tracing it from the earliest period of colonial settlement to the recent present. Sophomores only
SEMN 226 Theory in Action: Context, Positionality And Practical Application Theories have been described in different ways across social movements. They have been defined as integral to liberation, as ancestral legacies, as weapons, and/or as inhabiting our bodies and dictating our actions and knowledges. However, prominent ideas remain that describe theory as abstract and disconnected from reality, considering it an elite and privileged process while divorcing it form action. Nevertheless, all social movements are informed by theories that dictate an understanding of a problem and possible solutions. This course, through an examination of praxis, social movements, and intersectional literature, invites students to consider the ways theory served a key role in social justice projects like the Civil Rights Movement, Black Lives Matter, Mothers of East L.A., and tuition equity for undocumented migrants. Students will be exposed to hopeful and flexible theory that foregrounds the possibility of social change. Specifically, they will reflect on their own positionality as an entry point to understanding social problems and endeavor to put theory into practice, or as Aida Hurtado explains, deconstructing while reconstructing. Sophomores only
SEMN 231 The Plague This course explores the bubonic plague caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis during the medieval period. Treating plague pandemics as both human and biological events, this course will explore the diverse cultural reactions to this devastating disease, its effects on labor and economic structures, its impacts on religion and community, its influences on public health policies and medicine, and its connections to modern epidemiology. Only Sophomores may register.
SEMN 236 Religion, Representation, and Avatar This sophomore seminar focuses on the role religion plays in the Avatar: The Last Airbender multimedia franchise. The fictional fantasy world of the Avatar universe is clearly inspired by several different Asian and Indigenous American cultures. We will explore how Buddhist, Confucian, Hindu, Indigenous American, Jain, and Shinto religious traditions are incorporated into and appropriated by the Avatar TV shows. We will also investigate how queer, disabled, and marginalized characters are depicted within the religious realm of Avatar. Finally, we will examine multiple key concepts in the study of religion that also play a major part in the Avatar franchise.
SEMN 240 Economics for Global Travelers This Sophomore Seminar examines how economics can contribute to a better understanding of the world and our place in it. We will look at differences, similarities, and linkages among the economics of various nations. We will study flows of money, products, people, technologies, and ideas across national borders. The approach will be non-technical with an emphasis on understanding economic ideas. We will spend more time writing and discussing than on models or equations. Does not count toward economics or business major. Sophomores only. Cross-listed with ECON-240.
SEMN 241 Teaching for a Lifetime This sophomore seminar focuses on education, how teachers work, and how students learn. Students will learn how to prepare effective lessons for any audience, imagining the teacher in a variety of community roles from graduate school lab instructor to a candidate for local office. Participants will divide their time between both student and teacher classroom perspectives. The student perspective will be preparation for active, hands-on classroom teaching experiences off campus. Students will observe and work as novice teachers in Kalamazoo and build connections that highlight the relationship between the classroom and the community.
SEMN 255 You Are What You Eat: Food and Identity In a Global Perspective The goal of this course is to examine the social, symbolic, and political-economic roles of what and how we eat. While eating is essential to our survival, we rarely pay attention to what we eat and why. We will look at the significance of food and eating with particular attention to how people define themselves differently through their foodways. We will also study food's role in maintaining economic and social relations, cultural conceptions of health, and religion. Finally, the class examines the complex economic and political changes in food systems and the persistence of food's role as an expression of identity, social and ethnic markers. This course is a Shared Passages Sophomore Seminar.
SEMN 256 Music and Identity Music serves multiple roles: a force for social transformation, a flag of resistance, a proclamation of cultural identity, a catalyst for expressing emotion, an avenue to experiencing the sacred. Students will look at identity through the lens of contemporary and traditional American music and will consider how race, ethnicity, age, gender, national identity, and other factors express themselves in and are shaped by music. The ability to read music or understand basic music theory is not required; a love of music and an interest in American culture are essential. This course is a Shared Passages Sophomore Seminar. Sophomores Only
SEMN 257 Refugees and Migrants in Modern Europe The course explores the history of migration from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day, focusing on people moving from, within, and to Europe. Sophomores only. Cross-listed with HIST-256
SEMN 264 Global Shakespeares Shakespeare is the most translated, adapted, performed, and published Western Author. Just what this means to Western and non-Western cultures is at the heart of this course. What does it mean to think of Shakespeare as a colonizing force? What additional ways are there to see the influence of his works? Many cultures have written back to Shakespeare, addressing race, sexuality, gender, and religion from their own cultural perspectives. What do exchanges between differently empowered cultures produce and reproduce? We'll tackle such questions as we read works by Shakespeare and literary/film adaptations from around the globe. This course is a Shared Passages Sophomore Seminar. Sophomores Only
SEMN 268 Jews on Film This course examines themes in Jewish history and culture as expressed through the medium of film. Through readings, lectures, and class discussions, students will explore issues such as assimilation and acculturation, anti-Semitism, group cohesion, interfaith relations, Zionism, and the Holocaust. We will consider questions, such as: How are Jewish characters and places portrayed on film? Which elements of these portrayals change over time, and which remain constant? How do these cultural statements speak to the historical contexts that produced them? What choices do filmmakers make regarding the depiction of Jewish life, and how do those choices influence perceptions of Jews in particular, or minorities generally? Sophomores Only Sophomores Only
SEMN 270 In Search of the Supernatural: Myths And Spirits in Chinese Tradition This course explores the supernatural in Chinese mythology, folklore, and literature, examining myths of gods, spirits, and strange beings that blur the line between human and supernatural realms. Students will study cosmogonic myths, supernatural creatures, and ghost stories to understand how these narratives reflect cultural, social, and ethical themes in Chinese history. The course also addresses issues like transformation, justice, and gender dynamics. Modern media adaptations of these myths will be analyzed to explore their continued impact on contemporary identity and morality. Students will engage through readings, discussions, creative projects, and analytical writing to develop skills of literary analysis, critical thinking, and intercultural proficiency.
SEMN 280 Participatory Research Methods: Beyond Observation In this sophomore seminar, we ask: How do we come into the community with a good heart? Students will explore theories and practices that guide respectful engagement with communities, with particular attention to Indigenous, decolonial, and community-grounded methodologies. Through experiential learning, we will reflect on our own identities, learn to listen deeply, and practice co-creating knowledge in ways that are reciprocal, grounded, and transformative. This course introduces students to field-based research rooted in relational accountability, community care, and ethical participation by centering community-based research (CBR) and participatory action research (PAR).
SEMN 290 Sophomore Seminar
SEMN 292 Development and Dispossession This course takes a critical approach to the study of development, focusing particular attention on the displacement and dispossession of local populations. Using contemporary case studies, we examine how neoliberal policies and practices play out in various development sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, and the extractive industry, in both rural and urban spaces in the U.S. and around the world. Sophomores only.
SEMN 295 Island Time: Pacific Lit Islands: Perhaps the word conjures images of white sand, blue water, warm weather. From the perspective of the mainland, the Pacific Islands are often paradoxically imagined as exotic escapes, but also as sacrifice zones to military testing and sea level rise. Though tourism and militarism might seem like opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to imagining space, how can we trace histories of colonization in the Pacific to understand how these imaginations are intertwined? How do the Indigenous peoples of these islands define and express their own histories, cultures, and futurities? We will explore these questions through novels, short stories, poetry, and film. Sophomores only
SEMN 295 US-Africa Relations Since WW2 Course examines the long history of US involvement with Africa since WW2. We will move beyond stereotypes and mythology to a more complete understanding of the reality and possibilities of US-Africa relations. To do so, we will address question such as: -Under what circumstances have various Americans identified with Africa? -How have Americans sought influence or profits in Africa? To what effects? -Under what circumstances have various African countries identified with the US? Rather than being a study of individual African countries, the course will approach these questions through different topics and within specific countries' contexts, including Zimbabwe.
SEMN 295 The World Through New Orleans As the physical reality of New Orleans has been chaped by topography and climate, settler migration and indigenous displacement, enslavement and commodification, so has its music been shaped by the legal, economic, racial and political regimes that accompanied these changes. Crafting musical tools to navigate local realities, New Orleanians established central elements of African American music-and through it the popular music of the contemporary world. The class begins with New Orleans' constitutive musical cultures-indigenouse, African, Caribbean, and European-befoer moving towards a history of music in New Orleans, and out to hear how it has been heard, consumed, and adapted around the world. Sophomores only
SEMN 295 Bearing Witness: Holocaust Literature & Testimony First-person accounts of the Holocaust testify to persecution and violence, and represent acts of resistance against the Nazis' attempt to destroy all signs of Jewish life and culture. Memoirs, diaries, poetry, oral histories, and literary works of Holocaust victims and survivors continue to be read across the world. In this interdisciplinary seminar, we discuss what it means to bear witness to traumatic events, and how survivors (and subsequent generations) thematize the challenges of memory. Students will learn about the historical events of the Holocaust, and will discuss the role of these powerful literary works in post-Holocaust memorialization. Sophomores only
SEMN 295 Hallyu: Korean Cultural Wave This course explores Hallyu, the global phenomenon of the Korean Cultural Wave. Together we eat Korean cuisine, listen to K-pop, watch K-dramas and K-movies, in order to investigate how Hallyu started and spread across the world. You will play some games featured in "Squid Games," create your own MukBang video, and listen to K-pop from Psy to BTS. By experiencing Korean culture first hand, you will learn about Korea's unique cultural characteristics and how they differ (or not) from your own cultural frame.
SEMN 295 Becoming Kin In a time of climate crisis and pandemic disconnection, how do we reaffirm our relationship to other beings? To the land? To the water? How do we become better relatives? By studying Indigenous epistemologies, especially Anishinaabe epistemologies, we will learn how to become kin. This course will develop the skills we need to build and maintain ethical relations to Indigenous communities, lands, and waters, both in Kalamazoo and abroad. Reading and writing poetry is how we will practice indigenous ways of knowing; it is our language of reflection. No prior poetry background is needed. Poetry novices are welcomed and encouraged!
SEMN 295 Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Light Before and after World War II, many black musicians, artists and writers were dissatisfied with discrimination and segregation in America and moved to Paris as expatriates in search of a better way of life. They were joined by black soldiers who not only fought in the war, but also introduced Jazz to French soldiers. In Paris they were able to create thriving community of artists free from the confines of American racism. We will explore the complexities of the black experience as presented by black musicians, writers, and artists as they have tried to overcome, resist, and call attention to the hypocrisy of democracy in America.
SEMN 295 On Being Human in Africa The course examines the multiple experiences of Africans (their racialized and gendered existences, their affective relations, their ways of relating to and caring for each other and the land) and explores what it means to think and write about Africa. The course examines representations and discourses including fiction, academic writing, and social media and considers new paradigms and innovative technologies. Sophomores only

Senior Seminars

Senior Seminars are the culmination of the Shared Passages Program. Disciplinary senior seminars integrate students’ experiences inside and outside a particular major, while the interdisciplinary senior seminars listed below provide a liberal arts capstone experience, allowing students from a variety of majors to apply diverse aspects of their Kalamazoo College education to an interesting topic or problem.

Senior Seminar Courses

SEMN 402 Complex World Problems Complex system theory leads to new ways of thinking about world problems, and new observations about competition and cooperation (or lack thereof) in worldwide efforts to address global and local challenges. Topics of discussion will include: evolutionary perspectives on language; cultural and social norms; biological and social epidemics; risk management; and humanoid robots. While the class is not technical, it is based on a scientific approach. The class is appropriate for any seniors interested in our complex world and for juniors, if space is available.
SEMN 407 The Quest for Happiness: Living the Good and Gracious Life This course will draw on Psychological principles to explore how people can make their lives more fulfilling and meaningful. The course will focus on discussion and development of important life skills, including gratitude, resilience, and optimism, that are important for emotional well-being. Course assignments and discussions will emphasize reflection about one's own experiences at K as well as one's own goals for life post-graduation. Seniors Only
SEMN 408 Slow Farming: Resilient, Just, and Joyful Agriculture In this interdisciplinary Senior Capstone, students will critically examine recent movements in organic, local, and sustainable agriculture and explore how we might engage in transforming our individual, institutional, community, and political relationships with food and farming. This course includes a weekly practicum at Harvest of Joy Farm. Contact Amy Newday for an advance copy of the course syllabus. There are required off-campus components for this course. Seniors Only
SEMN 490 Arts Entrepreneurship Art Entrepreneurship will look at the business of the arts in the 21st Century. Explore themes of entrepreneurship through case studies of successful entrepreneurs and investigate the lessons learned from failed arts organizations. This course will be focused on tangible skills musicians and other artists will need to compete in the creative marketplace. Roles of nonprofit arts organizations and presenters will be investigated. Concepts studied will include but not be limited to: networking, digital media & marketing, non-profit leadership, organizational structure, non-linear career paths, project management, fundraising, budgeting, taxes & copyright, and audience engagement.
SEMN 492 American Indian Literature & Law "American Indian Literature and the Law" is an interdisciplinary examination of the relationship between literary and legal texts that uses Critical Race Theory as a lens. Our goal is to uncover and analyze the complicated relationship between United States law and the creative productions of Indigenous nations of North America. At heart, this senior seminar asks us to reflect deeply on the power of storytelling and the relationship between "the text" and "the world." Our course is thus necessarily interdisciplinary, and we will conduct research on government documents relating to Indigenous peoples in addition to researching literary and cultural criticism on our texts, using these skills to develop final projects that reflect the interests of each student. This is a Shared Passages Senior Seminar and fulfills the Advanced Literary Study requirement.
SEMN 493 Poetics of Love From the romantic, the sacred, the familial, and the platonic, we will examine how the love poem form is used to make sense of self, violence, and death. Specifically, we will look at how poets from marginalized communities are commandeering this form. Jericho Brown writes, "When I say I love you, I mean for you to understand that I exist in relation to you." Through poetry, we will process the relationships we've made at K and prepare for new relationships post- graduation. We will cultivate a place for love in our lives and understand that as anti-fascist work. Poetry novices encouraged!
SEMN 495 Exploring Stigma: Verbal & Visual Narrat Exploring Stigma: Verbal & Visual Narratives Social stigma exists. It may be associated with perceptions toward mental illness, socioeconomic status, race, religion, gender identity, and body image, to name a few. Stories help humanize issues and are invaluable as educational and awareness-raising tools. Reading works of art therapy, psychology, and sociology, and engaging in experiential art processes, students will examine the existence of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Together we will explore how narratives and the creative arts can play a role in social justice and in eliminating stigma. Seniors only
SEMN 495 Law and the Legal Profession This course is designed to prepare seniors for entering law school and starting on their path toward a legal career. The class will begin by providing a brief overview of the legal system. We will then transition to discussing the structure of law school and the specific skills needed to succeed in that setting. To practice these skills, the class will spend four weeks simulating a typical law school course unit using torts, one of the standard topics covered in a law student's first year. This simulated unit will culminate in the students using case briefs and outlines they have prepared to take a fact pattern-based midterm exam, like those that they will see in law school. Finally, we will explore the legal profession, covering the many options that exist for both traditional and non-traditional legal careers, with assignments that will help students make decisions about the direction they want to take their legal education and career. Our exploration will include hearing from guest speakers who currently work in some of the most common sectors of the legal profession. Students will conclude this section of the course with an informational interview with a legal professional working in a field that interests them. Throughout the course, students will be writing structured reflections about these professional interactions and about what they have learned about the law more generally. Seniors only.
SEMN 495 Vocational Calling in Healthcare This senior seminar is open to all senior students contemplating careers in healthcare, public health, global justice and humanitarian aid. This course will review the knowledge gained about the mind and body, as well as the traditions/practices of various cultures or religions in the human race. Course discussions will provide applicable scenarios to provider care. Further, a variety of guest speakers to provide unique lens and perspectives to examine current trends in healthcare and community outreach to foster meaningful discussion/solution generation. Finally, each student will craft a vocational discernment narrative which will inform their future approaches to displaying appropriate empathy, exemplifying intercultural competence and avoiding burnout in their chosen field.
SEMN 495 Real World: K-College Kalamazoo College provides students ample opportunities to engage academically, experientially, globally, and intellectually. How do you connect those experiences to your plans for life after K? Through intentional self-assessment and reflection, practical career preparation activities, and projects with local and national employers, this course will help you reinforce your professional presence, enact a viable postgraduation strategy, and strengthen your network.
SEMN 495 Collectivity and Society Art collectives have a long history of setting out to affect social change and to blur the lines between art practice and real life. This class will explore some of these collectives and the issues they engaged with and ask the fundamental question: "can art change the world?" This class is open to all majors, backgrounds, and interests and will feature a high degree of discussion and collaboration.
SEMN 495 Finding a Home in the World: Lessons in Sustainability From the Ancient Mediterranean People have struggled with how to live sustainably and to mitigate environmental damage at least since humans began farming. Since that time, we have existed in a struggle with the world we occupy for resources to sustain us and to fulfill our desires, and yet there have always been those who have found a harmonious balance within it. This class will be an exploration of how to become part of that latter group, examining struggles, practices, and solutions from the ancient Mediterranean and from today, and working on a community-based project. This is a service-learning course.
SEMN 495 Science Communication & Society You know Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jane Goodall and Bill Nye as scientists and, importantly, as science communicators. But why do these folks stand out in the sea of science? In this course, we slingshot into the important role science communication has in society AND why society must be considered in order to communicate science effectively. You will have opportunity to explore topics that are important to you (changing climate, current and historical injustices in SciComm, vaccine hesitancy etc.), and the course builds both theoretical and practical skills. During this course, we will harnesses the power of teamwork, creativity, connections and a wee bit of science to create accessible science-content for the community of Kalamazoo. Scientist students welcome, but NOT required! All majors can succeed and contribute to our cool content creations.
SEMN 495 Generative AI: Concepts, Techniques, & Implications This course will allow students to explore the basics of generative AI, combining foundational concepts with practical applications and discussions on societal, ethical, and interdisciplinary implications. Students will explore key generative models, experiment with their use, and critically analyze the broader impacts of generative AI across various discplines such as art, business, science, and more. Through prompt engineering, students will focus on crafting effective inputs to maximize the utility and accuracy of generative AI systems.
SEMN 499 Special Topic Senior Capstone Senior Shared Passages Capstone special topics course. Topics will vary from course to course. SEMN-499 courses may be added to the curriculum throughout the year. Seniors Only
SEMN 499F Crafting a Life - Fall This course will help students define life goals and a direction based on values, purpose and passion, interests, identities, and a personal philosophy upon which they can build a life. Reflective practice is partnered with core practical life skills such as budgeting, public speaking, and interviewing, among others. This course requires students to begin imagining and preparing for the immediate next stages of life as well as the necessary work of designing a well-considered life plan. Seniors Only
SEMN 499W Crafting a Life - Winter This course will help students define life goals and a direction based on values, purpose and passion, interests, identities, and a personal philosophy upon which they can build a life. Reflective practice is partnered with core practical life skills such as budgeting, public speaking, and interviewing, among others. This course requires students to begin imagining and preparing for the immediate next stages of life as well as the necessary work of designing a well-considered life plan. SEMN-499F and Senior Standing